Is the Diatom Sex Clock a Clock?

Co-author(s): Thomas Fuhrmann-Lieker, Roland Klassen, Nico Kubetschek and Jonas Ziebarth

Reference: Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 18 (2021) 20210146 (15+18 pages)

Description: We develop and analyse mathematical models for the rather special cell division cycle of diatoms which is sometimes considered as a multi-annual clock. Our models and numerical simulations based on them indicate that in a strict sense one cannot speak of a clock here, as no stable oscillatory modes exist. However, the models predict long-lasting oscillations over biologically meaningful time scales and thus can explain experimental observations.

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